Nalini Bates, associate director of supplier citizenship at Procter & Gamble, continually builds on a strong foundation for supplier diversity through innovation. She relies on the leadership and expertise of Melissa Baker, who leads the company’s U.S. supplier diversity program, to continue P&G’s phenomenal success. P&G has spent more than $2 billion annually with diverse-owned businesses for 12 straight years. Bates' team drives exceptional results by ensuring all buyers understand the importance of diverse spending and their role in ensuring continued high performance is achieved.
Bates regularly offers opportunities for buyers to easily meet new diverse suppliers. She works closely with buyers that are supplier diversity champions in their respective areas. Monthly meetings are held to review action plans, share and reapply learnings, and prepare for upcoming external engagements. Bates works closely with the company’s supplier diversity advisory council, a group of suppliers that help her team share internal and external action plans each year. Ongoing two-way communication with buyers, executing plans with excellence, and taking ownership of results are best practices driving success.